Parents express concern for kids if Bass River Elementary closes

BASS RIVER — About 70 people gathered in Bass River on Monday evening to protest the possibly of losing a community school.

Addressing members of the Chignecto-Central regional school board, Tory Phinney, chairman of the Bass River Elementary School review committee, said he is concerned the facility has been purposely allowed to deteriorate to make it easier to close.

“If any review should be done, it should be of how the school board failed to maintain our schools,” Phinney said.

Monday’s meeting included several parents worried about what would happen if the students are moved to West Colchester Consolidated School, a school for grades 5 to 8 about 500 metres away.

Students at Bass River Elementary in grades Primary to 4 already go to the school for gym and music class. Board officials said West Colchester is capable of housing about 300 students and adding the Bass River Elementary pupils would raise the student population to about 129.

Nellie McLaughlin, a school review committee member, has a daughter at each of the schools and doesn’t want a merger.

McLaughlin said the elementary school, celebrating its 100th year, is filled with resources ideal for students beginning their academic careers and she worries about losing that.

“It’s a really great little school.”

Parents’ worries included younger students using the same washrooms as older students, a vacant school falling back to the municipality, and thus taxpayers, to manage and the loss of a historical community landmark.

“Please keep our youngest children right where they belong — at home at Bass River Elementary School,” said Tanya Harnish.

Others noted that if the board approached the community for support, there is a good chance necessary repairs and needs would be met.

“We’ve never really looked at it from the community level,” said Garnet McLaughlin. “You’d be surprised what you can come up with through private donors. Let us be part of it, and we can make a change.”

Public meetings for the other schools up for review will continue this week and next: East Pictou Middle School tonight; River John Consolidated School on Thursday; and Wentworth Consolidated Elementary and Maitland District Elementary next week.